Container, atomizer and adapter spraying device



De- 22, 1964 w. MooNAN ETAL 3,162,370

CONTAINER ATOMIZER AND ADAPTER SPRAYING DEVICE Filed April 8, 1953 United States Patent Ofltice i'@ Patented Dec. 22, 1964 3,162,370 CONTAINER, ATOMIZER AND ADAPTER SPRAYING DEVICE William Moonan, Shaker Heights, and Vernon C. Groth,

Mentor, hio, assignors to Sprayon Products, Inc., Bedford Heights, Ohio, a corporation of @hin Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,078 12 Claims. (Cl. 239--364) This invention relates to liquid spraying devices and more particularly to atomizers adapted to spray medicaments and other liquid materials by means of a liquified propellant gas carried within a container separate from the atomizer.

Physicians and dentists nd it convenient and desirable to apply medications of various types by means of atomizers. Dentists conventionally have compressed air supplies in their offices and selectively connect an atomizer containing the desired medicament to the compressed air hose. This provides a convenient and safe way of applying medications, but physicians frequenty do not have compressed air supplies in their oces and many treatments must be given in the patients home or in other locations where there is no compressed air supply. This tact has limited the use of sprays and atomizers because hand-operated atomizers are less effective and more didicult to use than atomizers operated by compressed air.

Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a device whereby atomizers can be powered by a liquitied propellant gas contained in a container separate from the atomizer, whereby substantially the effectiveness and convenience of atomizers powered by compressed air can be obtained without the limitations inherent in the use of compressed air atomizers. Another object is to provide a simple and effective adapter for supporting a conventional, professional type atomizer of the sort used by dentists and physicians and connecting the atomizer to a container of :iquilied propellant gas, the container also being of a conventional type.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevation showing a conventional atomizer connected to a can containing a liquitied propellant gas by an adapter made according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective showing the underside of the adapter of FIGURES l, 2 and 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective illustrating the adapter mounted on a propeliant can, with the propellant can supported on a supporting base or plate.

As shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the present invention is especially adapted to atomizers of a well-known type that are extensively used by those physicians and dentists who have supplies of compressed air available in their otiices. Such an atomizer is indicated in general at in the drawings and comprises a typically tall and narrow glass reservoir 11 that is screwed into a metal atomizer body 12. A glass diptube 14 extends downwardly from the body 12 into close proximity to the bottom Vof the reservoir 11. The body 12 has an upwardly projecting'portion 15 of smaller diameter to which are secured at inlet fitting 16 and a pair of discharge tubes 17 that terminate in a pivoted nozzle 18. The atomizer 10 is of a conventional type readily available on the market and widely used by dentists and physicians. The f liquid such as a medicament to be sprayed is placed in the reservoir 11. Conventionally, the user clips an air hose to the tting 16. The flange 20 is used as part of the mechanism for holding the air hose and the atomizer together and the air hose is provided with a tapered member adapted to make a connection within the tapered bore 21 of the tting 16. The air hose has a valve at its end so that the user can, with one hand, position and direct the atomizer and control the discharge of spray from it.

The present invention provide means whereby similar convenience of operation and effectiveness can be obtained without the necessity for a supply of compressed air. This is accomplished by means of an adapter indicated in general at 22 that is arranged to support the atomizer 10, the adapter in turn being detachably supported by a can or container 24 containing a liquied gaseous propellant. As appears below, the adapter provides a secure support for the atomizer 10, a conduit for conducting propellant gas from the can 24 to the atomizer and a convenient control for the valve that controls the discharge of gas from the can.

The container or can 24 is of a type wldely used for dispensing aerosol products and comprises a cylindrical body 25 to which a concave bottom 26 is secured as shown in FIGURE l, there being a small bead or flange 27 at the juncture of the cylindrical body 25 and the bottom 26. The can may be supported upon a base or stand 28 having flanges 29 on opposite sides and at the back thereof and a forwardly projecting portion 30. The anges 29 engage the iiange 27 on the bottom of the can and the projecting portion 3i) prevents the assembly of atomizer, adapter and can from being over-ba anced by the weight of the adapter and atomizer. The base readily slides onto or oi of the can.

In order to provide a closure for can 24, the upper end of the can body 25 merges into a conical portion 32 that terminates in a short cylindrical portion 33 of less diameter than the body of the can and to which a closure member 34 is crimped. The closure member has a depressed central portion 35 in the center of which there is secured an upwardly projecting valve body 37 which contains a valve mechanism for controlling the discharge of iluid from the can. The valve may take any convenient form and preferably embodies a shoulder 38 and an upwardly extending discharge member 39 having a discharge passage 4i) therein. The Valve is actuated by a pin 41 that extends through the discharge passage 40 into the body of the valve. Depression of the actuating pin 41 opens the valve; releasing the actuating pin permits the valve to be closed by the action of a spring within the valve mechanism. The can is filled with liquiiied gas such as dichlorodiiiuoromethane or other appropriate halo-carbon, hydrocarbon or combination of gases having the desired temperature and pressure characteristics and which can be used with safety to spray medicaments and like materials. The container and the valve are preferably of well-known constructions and per se form no part of the present invention.

The adapter 22 is formed to be securely supported by the can 24 and in turn securely to support the atomizer 10, and to accomplish these functions merely by frictional and resilient engagement With the parts so that the adapter can be easily joined to or separated from either the atomizer, the can or both without requiring any tools or undue force. These results preferably are obtained by molding the body 45 of the adapter in one piece from a suitable, somewhat ilexible vplastic such as a polyethylene composition and providing the adapter with a cavity 46 'to receive the can 24 and arms or forks 47 to engage the portion 12 of the atomizer, support the atomizer and maintain therequired connection with the tting 16. The adapter also has an intermediateY portion 48 having a raised portion cont'aining'a passageway or conduit 49 forY conducting propellant gastr'on'i'v the valve discharge passageway 40 to the connection 16 of the atomizer. Passageway 49 terminates in a tapered nozzle that fits withinfthe taperedlborelZl'iof the inl/et ttingf16- of the atomizer 10.` The passageway 49 constitutes -an expansion chamber for the propellant gas,- and preferably, the ow of gas is` meteredbyanfo'rie 51' that is formed 1n a flanged 'metal insert that is pressed into the passageway.

In order todetaehably: yet firmlyv`supportthe adapter` 22 on the can'r24', thebody 4-5 is provided lwith 'a lower, substantiallycylindrical portion 52 having internally extending ribs 53 that make frictionalengagement Wnjhlthe upperpa'rt'of the -body'25 of the can 24.` The cylindrical i der 59 from4 which' 'fi/dischargeA bore 60 extends upwardly to intersect and go beyond the horizontal discharge conduit'49.' Bore 60'snuglyen'gages the discharge member 39 of the val'veso thatleakage of' gas downwardly around the discharge memberI is k'substantially prevented.

The top wall '61fof the' bore 60 is pierced to receive the actuating pin" 41 that is closely engaged by `the Inaterial of the-wallso that 'the pin remains in place when the adapter is removed froma propellantcan 'and also to prevent 'anysubstantial leakagelof gas` around the piny when the -valve 'is 4opened. "The pin 41 extends into a notched 4'opening 63`in the projecting top 64 ofthe adapter. The -notch 63`makes thet'op 64 into what isin effect a hinged ap, second class leverso that thefuser may without diculty press the* top downwardly Ainto, engagerfnentfwith the pin`41'a/nd thus' open the valye. Gas vthen flowsfout' ofithe 1discharge vpassageway 40 andinto the horizontal passageway 49 through the metering orifice.51 to the` atomize'r," Wh'enthe lap is re1eased, rthevvalve mechanism automatically closes by reason of a springf within the valve mechanism and also the vapon pressure of the'uid withinthe'ean.' j t The'adapter lis assembled with the can merelybypushing it onto the can with'the center of .the openi-ng146A substantiallyy aligned with'the axis ofthecan. Thetinner surfaces of the ribs 53 d'ene a diameterslightly less than4 the diameter of the can `body 25 so rthatsecurefrictional engagement is obtanedbetween the can and theedapter.

The 'flexibility of'jthe Vplastic material Afrom -which EV.theV adapter is molded enablestit to malte proper frictionaly engagement wlthpropellant cansev'en though thecans may beslightly outofround or of'varying diametenf-,within ordinary commercialtole'rances. {The adapter` is properly locatedv with vrespect to the .Canby vengagement between the bottom end of the downwardly projecting boss,-

57 and the 'surfaceof the closure memberS immediately surrounding the valve body 37 aorfby engagement ofthe shoulder 59 and the shoulder 38. ofthe valvedbodyj-The adapter is removed fro'rnthe can simply by pulling it off of the can, thepin 41 being frictionally Tetalldll: the;

' The ato'mizer 10 is supportedby 0139956@ that extend from the body 45ofttheadapter-and; areftntegral With'the remainder' of the' adapter. The Vvarr,ns 1 4' 7;,are

shaped resiliently to embrace'gthe. metalI bodyilZ, off the,

atomizer andnrgeit toward'the Vbody vof the adapterI Preferably `the adapter is separated from. theY atomzer, the space between the Alarms. @is .a little-less `than thatgfrequired by the body portion 12rof the atornizerm Al'sQ,1t.he

centers of the arcs deninglheinner;surfacesgof the arms are offset toward the bodyof the adapter from the axis of the atomizer when the atomizer is engaged byl the arms.

The result is that when the atomizer is Aposition as shown in FIGURE 2, the arms 47 resiliently embrace the body 12 with suicient force to hold the atomlzer firmly in position. In particular, the arms engage the body 12 in the zones 66 and are spaced from the body 12 1n the zones aw-ith the resultthat the resilience `of the arms tends to urge the atomizer toward the body of the adapter whenrthe .atom'zer .iS pushed into place. between the :arms andA ,withr `the fitting 16. ofthe atomizer. engaging thenozi zle' 50A of the adapter. Thisactionmaintainsthe required huid-tight connection between thetnozzle `and the ttmg while the engagement Nbetween the nozzle and the fitting `preventszvertical displacement of theuatornizer wi th`re' spectto the adapter. Thus the noz/zlewco/operates the arms tocorrectly support Vthe atomizer,Y rv vhile the arms cooperate with the nozzle'in maintaining thelrjequlreduid connection betweenthe` atomizer andthe adapter. i

The Outer Snrfce ofthe ,arms 47 areuslpedfdQW-n- -v wardly as shown at 67 `so that the, adapter willl not interfere with the vision of the 11.591 Of. theatomizery and jthe' ends 0f the arms are 'rounded' asiat68.107 ,facilitateinserf tionlof the atomizer into the space 'betweenlthef, The lower p ortion'sof the arms are cut away as shown .at 69 to I receive the glass borttlevll, this ,varclllate portion lof the ordinary comrnercdal tol'elances..`rv` 'Ihe recesses 71, 72 and and to reduce the arnountoftplastic required.. In Operatimtne Juser Simply plaselheedapter. .en propel'lant'an, pushing it -down vas .fa aait will goand then pushes the atomizer, laterally into engagement ,with

the .armsY 4,7 andfwthlhe nozzles@ within theftting 16 0f the atomizer. The atmnizer is pperated; by; depresna the ap '6,4 1to1. depress. the; Pin 4 1, and 91ml .thetzvalv S0 Ihat'the propellant gasis!dSChfwMhtQagh-the. awrn izer. Heuser ,caneasilv deptsSlia-ap; with his first linger while holding .theeanwith hispthnrnb and remaining .fingers the device senaat-@rented readily .with one hand. As 'soon as the flap 64 is released, `the Valve autamatically ,clases and disllalaee mediament .0r

other ,materialtfrom theatomizer Stoner.YOr. 1 i..r1a1vi1y the adapteur.' S- left ont. a-,siyer1 'sam- ,of ptopellant-y 111161411@ propellant is exhausted.: One can of propellant and -one adaptereanL be Y use@ with; tSCYrl difQrent-.1at0mizers-con-- taining diierent materials tovbe sprayed, if desired,` since it isla veryrsimple mattergfto onneet and disconnectlthe atomizers.V The expansion chamberproyided by .the.pas sageway 4 9 y. and -the --metering orifice 51 ,insurethat .the

propellant, gas is discharged atthe proper rate and,;re-.

s u 1 t .in efiicient usageof the gas. -The device lis simple,

at reasonable costlll Sinceitj an benoperated byeone hand, it l'gives theuser all of theconvenience of. compressedairpperated atomizers .plus the .ability to .use Athe atomizer-inlanyl atipn. 1 ,H

. Those skilledpi' v e; art -will appreciate, that various Changes and mQdQLtOnS-fan.bemade.' in the .invention without departing from the spirit and Vscope thereof. The essential, characteristics of the invention are set forth in the appended Claims-w t f r 1. Anvadapter for connecting'an atomizer to `a con` tainer .for a liquifie'd propellantgas, said fatomizerf comprising abody'haying `ajitting' adapted for connection to asourcepf propellant'gas,l atdischargeY` nozzle projecting from the body and a. reseryoiri for liquid yto be sprayed of gas therefrom; said adapter comprising a body portion adapted to be frictionally and detachably mounted on said container, said body portion of said adapter having a passageway adapted to communicate with the discharge opening of the container when said adapter is in place on said container, said adapter also comprising means for connecting said passageway to said itting of said atomizer by straight-line movement of said atomizer with respect to said adapter and means for frictionally and detachably engaging said atomizer and supporting it with said fitting connected to said passageway.

2. An adapter for connecting an atomizer to a container for a liquified propellant gas, said atomizer comprising a cylindrical body having a fitting adapted for connection to a source of propellant gas, a discharge nozzle projecting from the body and a reservoir for liquid to be :sprayed depending from the body, said container having a discharge opening and a valve for controlling the discharge of gas therefrom; said adapter comprising a molded plastic member having a body portion having a recess adapted to receive the upper portion of the container and to make frictional engagement therewith, said body portion of said adapter having a passageway adapted to communicate with the discharge opening of the container when said adapter is in place on said container, means carried by said adapter for operating said valve, means molded integrally with said body portion for connecting said passageway to said fitting of said atomizer and means molded integrally with and projecting from said body portion and adapted to frictionally and detachably engage the body of said atomizer and to support said atomizer with said iitting connected to said passageway.

3. An adapter according to claim 2 having a pair of oppositely disposed flexible arms extending from the body thereof and adapted to embrace the body of the atomizer and resiliently urge the atomizer toward the can of propellant gas.

4. An adapter according to claim 3 wherein the discharge passageway of the adapter terminates in a tapered nozzle that fits within a tapered bore of the atomizer tting.

5. An adapter according to claim 4 wherein the arms are curved and urge the tapered nozzle of the adapter and the tapered bo-re of the atomizer fitting together.

6. An adapter according to claim 5 wherein said body portion has a lug disposed below the level of said arms and adapted to engage the liquid container of the atomizer to retain the atomizer in position with respect to the axis of the can when the adapter nozzle is in position within the fitting of the atomizer.

7. An adapter according to claim 6 wherein the lug is resilient.

8. An adapter according to claim 4 in which the discharge passageway in the adapter is provided with a metering orifice adjacent the nozzle.

9. In combination, a container for a liquified propellant gas, said container having a discharge opening and a valve for controlling the discharge of gas therefrom, an atomizer comprising a body having a fitting adapted for connection to a source of propellant gas, a discharge nozzle projecting from the body and a reservoir for liquid to be sprayed depending from the body, and an adapter for supporting said atomizer from said container and conducting gas from `said container to said atomizer, said adapter being formed separately from said container and said atomizer and comprising a body portion frictionally and detachably engaging the container, said body portion of said adapter having a passageway in cornmunication with said discharge opening when said adapter is in place on said container, said adapter having means for operating said valve, means for connecting said passageway to said fitting and means for frictionally engaging said atomizer and -detachably supporting it with said fitting connected to said passageway.

10. In combination, a container for a liquified propellant gas, said container having a discharge opening and a valve for controlling the discharge of gas therefrom, an atomizer comprising a body having a fitting adapted for connection to a source of propellant gas, a discharge nozzle projecting from the body and a reservoir for liquid to be sprayed depending from the body, and an adapter for supporting said atomizer from said container and conducting gas from said container to said atomizer, said adapter being formed separately from said container and said atomizer and comprising a one-piece molded plastic body portion having a recess frictionally and detachably engaging the upper portion of said container, said body portion of said adapter having a passageway in communication with said discharge opening when said adapter is in place on said container, said adapter having means for operating said valve, means for connecting said passageway to said fitting and means comprising a pair of opposed arms molded integrally with said body portion for frictionally and detachably engaging said atomizer and supporting it with said fitting connected to said passageway.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the discharge valve in the container has a cylindrical discharge References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,066,607 1/37 Burgess et al. 239-308 2,181,421 11/39 Fahr 239-304 2,892,317 6/59 Holmes 239-303 2,895,651 7/59 Mahon et al 239-308 3,044,713 7/62 Ellis 239-308 3,058,669 10/62 Drell 239-304 3,085,752 4/63 Drell 239-308 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Examiner. 

1. AN ADAPTER FOR CONNECTING AN ATOMIZER TO A CONTAINER FOR A LIQUIFIED PROPELLANT GAS, SAID ATOMIZER COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A FITTING ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF PROPELLANT GAS, A DISCHARGE NOZZLE PROJECTING FROM THE BODY AND A RESERBOIR FOR LIQUID TO BE SPRAYED DEPENDING FROM THE BODY, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING AND A VALVE FOR CONTROLLING THE DISCHARGE OF GAS THEREFROM; SAID ADAPTER COMPRISING A BODY PORTION ADAPTED TO BE FRICTIONALLY AND DETACHABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CONTAINER, SAID BODY PORTION OF SAID ADAPTER HAVING A PASSAGEWAY ADAPTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE DISCHARGE OPENING OF THE CONTAINER WHEN SAID ADAPTER IS IN 